HomeMy WebLinkAboutConfirm Judge Seel's appointment of J. Colleen Herrington as part-time municipal court Judge
To: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
From: Karl P. Seel, Municipal Court Judge
Subject: City Commission Confirmation of J. Colleen Herrington as part-time
Municipal Court Judge
Meeting: January 9, 2012
Recommendation: City Commission passes a motion confirming Bozeman
Municipal Judge, Karl P. Seel’s appointment of J. Colleen Herrington as Bozeman’s
½ time Municipal Judge.
Background: 3-6-201(6) M.C.A. states, “A municipal court judge may, with the
approval of the governing body of the city, appoint a part-time assistance judge,
who must have the same qualifications as a judge pro tempore under 3-6-204, to
serve during the municipal court judge‘s term of office. An order by a part-time
assistant judge has the same force and effect as an order of a municipal court
judge.
After a recruitment period I went through all applications filed to make sure all
applicants have practiced law in the state of Montana for a period of at least 5
years. Chief Clerk Michelle Westberg and I discussed each applicant. We are
familiar with each of the individuals that applied and had several well qualified
applicants. Our preferred applicant is J. Colleen Herrington.
We look forward to working with Ms. Herrington. She has considerable
experience in the area of criminal law including several years of experience
appearing in the Bozeman Municipal Court. I believe she has the temperament
and background to become a fine jurist.
Respectfully submitted by Karl P. Seel, Municipal Court Judge
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